From 1743, the regiment garrisoned Berlin (Cölln and Spittelmarkt). It levied its recruits in the district of Beeskow, Cottbus and Lebus; and in the towns of Fürstenwalde, Mühlrose, Peitz and Seelow.

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was commanded by:

since August 24 1749: Dietrich Richard von Meyerinck

from January 25 1758: Carl Heinrich von Wedell

from December 25 1760 to December 29 1764: Christian Bogislav von Linden

The numbering system (Stammliste) was first used by Leopold I., Fürst von Anhalt-Dessau (Der alte Dessauer) in the Dessauer Spezifikation from 1737. Around 1780 the numbers were used in the printed Stammlisten, still with some variations for the fusilier regiments. It became official by "Cabinets-Ordre" from October 1, 1806. The present infantry regiment was attributed number 26.

The regiment was disbanded in October 1806 after the capitulation of Erfurt, Ratekau and Stettin.

Service during the War

On August 26 1756, when a Prussian army was ordered to proceed to the invasion of Saxony, the regiment was part of the left column led by the Prince of Bevern. This column had concentrated in the area of Lübben, it then advanced through Lusatia by Hoyerswerda and Bautzen, to Hohenstein (Sept. 8) then to Lohmen north of the Elbe near Pirna. The regiment then took part in the blockade of the Saxon Army in Pirna till it surrendered in mid-October.

On May 6 1757, during the Prussian invasion of Bohemia, the regiment took part in the Battle of Prague where it was deployed in the first line in Lestwitz's Brigade. At the end of August, the regiment was part of the small Prussian army hastily assembled at Dresden by Frederick to head towards Thuringia and to offer battle to the Franco-Imperial Army invading Saxony. On November 5, at the Battle of Rossbach, the regiment was deployed in the first line of the infantry right wing under Lieutenant-General Ferdinand Prince of Brunswick. On December 5 at the Battle of Leuthen, the regiment was deployed in the vanguard which successfully attacked the Austrian left flank. At about 1:00 p.m., the regiment along with Itzenplitz Infantry advanced against an Austrian battery of 14 guns planted on the heights behind Sagschütz and took it after a short opposition. This threw the whole corps of Nádasdy into confusion. During this battle, the regiment suffered heavy casualties, loosing 464 men, including 14 officers.

From May to July 1758, the regiment took part in the invasion of Moravia and in the failed Siege of Olmütz. On October 14, it fought in the catastrophic Battle of Hochkirch where it was initially deployed in the centre of the first line, en potence towards the village of Wawitz. It was once more decimated during this battle, only 360 men escaping the disaster.

From July 30 to August 3 1760 the then "Wedell Regiment" took part in the defence of Breslau. On August 15, it fought in the Battle of Liegnitz. On November 3, it was at the Battle of Torgau where it lost of 12 officers and 643 men.

On May 12 1762, the regiment took part in the Combat of Doebeln where it was deployed in the centre right column under Lieutenant-General Hans Wilhelm von Kanitz. On October 29, it fought in the Battle of Freiberg where it was deployed on the right wing in Dirigshofen's Brigade.

The regiment was considered as one of the best units during the war.

N.B.: During the war the grenadiers from the wing grenadier companies were put together with the grenadiers of the Regiment Itzenplitz forming the Grenadier Battalion 13/26 (please refer to this article for the details of the service of the grenadiers during the war).

Uniform

The uniforms depicted in this section were first introduced in 1748-1749.

Prussian blue lined red with 6 yellow braid loops on each side on the chest, 2 larger braid loops on each side at the waist, 2 brass buttons on the right side at the waist, 1 yellow braid loop on each side in the small of the back

one white belt over the left shoulder for the cartridge box and one narrower white belt over the right shoulder for the haversack

Waistbelt

white with a brass buckle

Cartridge Box

black

Bayonet Scabbard

brown

Scabbard

brown

Footgear

black shoes

Privates were armed with a musket, a bayonet and a sabre with a curved blade.

NCOs

NCOs wore uniforms similar to those of the privates with the following distinctions:

tricorne with wide gold lace and black and white quartered pompoms

golden lace loops instead of the yellow braid loops of the privates

no shoulder strap

gilt buttons

yellowish leather gloves

black and white sabre tassel

NCOs were armed with a sabre and a black half-pike measuring 10 Rhenish feet (3.06 m.) in the musketeer companies and 13 Rhenish feet (4.10 m.) in the grenadier companies (carried by the 3 most senior NCOs while other grenadier NCOs were armed with rifled muskets since 1744).

NCOs also carried canes (normally attached to a button at the top of the right front while carrying the half-pike).